Self-righting toy



Jan. 11, 1927. w. BIRRELL SELF RIGHTING TOY Filed March 16. 1926 Rd 0 T 1 m5 w m W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KVILLIAM BIRRELL, OF CHEHALIS, WASHINGTON.

SELF-BIGHTING TOY.

Application filed March 16; 1926. Serial No. 95,015.

This invention relates to wheeled toys.

The objectof my invention is to provide a toy of this character which is constructed in a manner to render it self-righting when turned upon its side, thus adapting it for use by little children.

In order to accomplish the object of my invention use is made in a toy of a transversely arranged member or members rigidly connected to or formed integral with the body of the toy, the outline of the outer edges of a member being formed in the semblance of a part of a wheel, and arranged with respect to the toys center of gravity that when the toy is turned over upon one side or the other, the weight of the body will serve to return the toy into its upright position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention in a wheeled toy having the similitude of a duck; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a toy wagon embodying my invention; Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the same, shown for illustrative purposes in an assumed laterally tilted position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and-2, the reference numeral 10 represents a platform, herein shown as of an oblong rectangular shape, from the opposite sides of which extend studs 11 constituting axle journals for ground wheels 12, two at each side. Rigidly secured to said platform centrally of its width is a longitudinally disposed body member 13 having the configuration of a duck, although it may be the representation of any other bird, an animal, fish, etc. Mounted rigidly upon the platform 10, at

each side of the body member 13, is a wingmember 14 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is shown as disposed at right angles to the plane of said body member- Said platform, body and wing members constitute an integral or unitary structure. Said wing members have their outer lateral edges 15 of a curved shape, preferably arcs of a circle or the periphery of a cylinder which if produced, as indicated by dotted lines 16 in Fig. 2, is adapted to encompass a space containing the ground wheels 12.

The axis A of the arcs of said wings, and of the projected cylinder above referred to,

that is to say, with all of its ground-wheels bearing upon a substantially horizontal [ioor or other support. 7

By thus having the axis of the arcuate outer edges 15 of bothwings disposed normally above the center of gravity of the toy, it is apparent that gravitation will act to cause the toy to roll upon a wing edge 15 back into such normal upright position, in the event of the toy being turned over in one lateral direction or the other, thereby affording a self righting toy.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, I show a wagon-box structure 20 having axles 21 upon which are journaled the ground-wheels 22. In this construction the wagon box is provided with end members 23 each having the shape of a segment of a circle, the chord of which corresponds with the box bottom wall 24.

The end walls 23 have'the arcuate parts 25 of their peripheries correspond with the peripheral surface of a projected cylinder whose axis is indicated by A Such projected surface, if extended, as represented by dotted line 27 in Fig. 5, encompasses the ground-wheels 22. The center of gravity, indicated by G in Figs. 4 and 5, of the toy wagon as a whole, is located below and in a vertical plane which extends through the axis A when the wagon is in its normal upright position as represented inFig. 4.

By positioning the axis A of the arcuate edge portions of the end walls 23 above the center of gravity of the wagon as a whole, the power of gravitation serves to roll the wagon laterally from any tipped over position back into its normal upright position.

This self righting characteristic of the invention will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 5, wherein let a line a be extended radially of the axis A and vertically of the floor or support for the toy; and a vertical line 9, indicating the force of gravitation acting downwardly through the center of gravity G forms, with the reactionary force applied upwardly at line a, a couple of revolutions which will serve to roll the wagon back-into the upright position in which it is represented in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the pair of Wings 14 of the first clescribed toy (Figs. 1 and 2) and the end walls 23 of the other described toy (Figs. 3 and 4) with their arcuate outer edges will, in effect. function as Wheels whereby the power of gravitation Will serve to roll the respective toy from a turned over position back into its normal upright position.

A toy Constructed according to my invention may be propelled by any suitable means as, "for example, by being pushed, or by being; pulled through the instrumentality of a cord (not shown) connected, for instance to an eye attachment 29 provided for that purpose at the front end of a toy.

The eonstruetion and principles of operation of my invention will be readily ap parent froin the foregoing description. While I have described two embodiments of my invention, I desire to have it understood that they are merely illustrative and that changes may be made if desired, Within the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim, is,-

A self-righting toy comprising a structure mounted upon ground-Wheels, said structure being provided with members arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the toy, the outer edges of said members being of circular arcuate form which produced will encompass the space containing said ground-Wheels, the axis or": generation of the areuate edges of said members being located normally above the center of gravity of the toy.

Signed at Chehalis, lVashington, this 13th day of January, 1926.

WILLIAM BIB-BELL. 

